As Ishan and Sara chatted along the way, they soon reached Ashok's mansion. The warm glow of lanterns filled the courtyard. Inside, Ashok sat waiting for them, his usual stern expression softening as he saw the young man.
"Ishan! Come, sit beside your uncle. Let's eat together," Ashok said with a hearty smile. "I haven't seen you for four months, and look at you—you've grown thinner!"
Before Ishan could reply, Sara puffed her cheeks, stomping her foot. "You never say that to me, Father! Hmph!" she huffed, pretending to pout.
Ashok and Ishan couldn't help but laugh. The three of them entered the dining hall, where the table was already set with steaming dishes. Ishan often ate here—it was almost like his second home. Without hesitation, he took his usual seat.
Sara jumped into the chair next to him, eagerly grabbing a piece of meat and chewing noisily. Ashok and Ishan exchanged helpless smiles, shaking their heads at her boundless energy.
Only the sound of Sara's enthusiastic chewing broke the silence of dinner.
After the meal, Ashok and Ishan stepped outside to the quiet garden. The night air was cool, carrying the faint scent of jasmine. As they walked under the soft moonlight, Ashok's voice grew serious.
"Ishan, you must've heard about the grand celebration being held by the Cloudpiercer Group," he began.
"I did," Ishan replied. "But something about it doesn't feel… ordinary."
Indeed, it didn't. There were three things that bothered him deeply.First — Why was such a grand event being held only two years after the last one?Second — Why were so many high-ranking academies and clans willing to travel to this remote city just to attend?And third — the mysterious girl, Amrita.
Ashok nodded approvingly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You're sharp, boy. I also heard you were the one who saved Amrita's life and brought her back safely."
Ishan nodded slightly.
Ashok sighed. "That girl's fate is tragic… but that's not what I wanted to discuss. You see, the Lightning Dragon City and the surrounding region lie in one of the weakest zones of the entire Martial Continent. The energy here is scarce, thinner than anywhere else."
He paused, his gaze fixed on the dark horizon. "No one knows why. Yet despite its weakness, many great powers have always kept their eyes on this place. Because time and again, ancient remnants have appeared here."
(Remnants — fragments of ancient worlds once ruled by powerful experts. When they perish, their condensed worlds remain behind, filled with treasures and inheritances.)
"These remnants," Ashok continued, "often contain treasures powerful enough to elevate a warrior to the Energy Circulation or even higher realms. This time, the Cloudpiercer Group has discovered one such remnant. And they intend to use this birthday celebration as a smokescreen—to expand their influence and solidify their hold over Marcrum City."
"That's why Ramaraju returned three years ago."
"The academies attending this event," Ashok said gravely, "are using it as both an assessment and a test. They want to measure whether this region's cultivators are growing stronger again… and perhaps recruit a few promising students. But make no mistake — their true goal is the remnant itself. It's said that after the banquet, a Rune Artist will arrive to unlock it."
(Rune Artists — ancient masters of the arcane craft who inscribe runes and formations, capable of bending reality itself. The art later evolved into what modern academies call "Formation Masters.")
Ashok looked Ishan in the eye. "Now, do you see the real reason behind this event?"
Ishan nodded slowly. "I do, Uncle. But what does any of this have to do with me?"
Ashok smiled faintly. "Your father, Rudra Singhania, was once a disciple of Skybreaker Academy — one of the most prestigious academies on the continent. I want you to join that same academy and continue your father's legacy. Sara has already been selected by them and will be directly accepted. I could arrange the same for you… but I'd rather you earn it through your own strength."
Ishan understood. "I won't disappoint you, Uncle."
His heart burned with determination. If his father had once belonged to such an academy, then he too would walk that path. And if fate had given him this opportunity so soon, he wouldn't waste it.
Besides, he'd already been considering joining an academy to learn more about this world's cultivation systems. Now, his choice was clear — Skybreaker Academy.
He didn't yet know the true level of the academy… nor how much it would change his destiny.
After a while, the two finished their talk, and Ishan bid his uncle farewell. Returning to his humble dwelling, his mind was alight with plans — for both his cultivation and his future empire.
He didn't just want power. He wanted to build — to create something enduring in this world as he once had in his own.
As he arrived, Rajiv was busy repairing something outside.
"Rajiv," Ishan called out, handing him a food packet, "take this and eat. And how many times must I tell you? Don't work until you're fully healed."
Rajiv paused, smiling gratefully. "Young Master, I'm feeling much better now. I can manage on my own — no need to worry so much."
"How can I not? Go eat. That's an order," Ishan scolded lightly.
Rajiv chuckled and obeyed, sitting down to eat. They often shared meals prepared by Ashok's household, only cooking for themselves occasionally.
Once Rajiv began eating, Ishan stepped into the courtyard. The night wind brushed past his face as he assumed his stance.
He began practicing the Eagle Claw Technique — a martial art he had developed himself, combining the 42 strength points across the body into a single, devastating form. Each strike mirrored the dive of a hunting eagle. His fists roared through the air, and each motion carried the weight of power.
Had any warrior from this world witnessed this, they would've been stunned — for this was not a mere Physical-level technique. The precision of energy-point manipulation made it comparable to skills from the Vital Core realm.
Ishan trained relentlessly. Within ten minutes, he had mastered the technique to perfection.
He then sat cross-legged, intending to practice his new meditation technique — but stopped. "No… this one will work best at dawn," he muttered to himself, remembering the book's advice.
He turned instead to pure physical training — push-ups, pull-ups, lifts with stone weights he had fashioned himself. His courtyard, roughly 800 meters around, became his training ground. He ran a hundred laps within ten minutes… then another hundred, refusing to stop until his body trembled.
This kind of rigorous physical training was unknown in this world — where cultivators relied purely on energy, not discipline.
When Rajveer's spy reported this to him, Rajveer frowned while Rajesh laughed mockingly.
"He's gone mad! Training his body like a fool instead of focusing on energy control," Rajesh sneered. "Father, stop worrying. That coward's no match for me."
Rajveer tried to calm himself, but unease lingered in his eyes.
Meanwhile, back at Ishan's courtyard — his body was drenched in sweat, muscles burning, but his spirit unyielding. Even as fatigue screamed through his veins, he pushed past his limits again and again, training until the stars faded into dawn.
By 4 A.M., the first light touched the horizon.
Ishan finally sat down, breathing deeply, ready to practice his meditation technique.
The moment he entered that state, the surrounding air shifted. Wind began to spiral inward, drawn toward him. The world itself seemed to breathe with him — the faint strands of energy in the air trembled and surged into his body.
A faint golden glow spread around him.
Something was awakening.